Thursday, September 25, 2008

Taking a seat in the common room, opposite Joseph's cabin nurse -- a woman with wavy brown hair who looks to be about my age -- I'm not nervous at all.

Determined, is more like it.

We start out talking about basal rates and insulin-to-carb ratios; corrections and the timing of set changes.

And then, I take a deep breath.

"Now, I'm sure you're aware that Joseph needs to be checked at both midnight and 2am. I spoke with the camp director about this a couple of months ago. Also, Joseph's endocrinologist sent a letter outlining the reasons why he needs to be checked... "

Her head tilts to one side; her mouth opens slightly.

And then-- a look of confusion.

"Did you see the letter from his doctor?" I ask.

"No, I didn't... but we can see how he's doing," she says with a pleasant smile, "I'm sure the camp doctor will be able to- "

"I'm afraid that's not gonna work-- you see, each of the last three yearsI was assured that Joseph would be checked. And each year that hasn't happened. When I asked about this last year, I was told that the camp doctor overrode my son's doctor's orders because Joseph's blood sugars were 'in range' before he went to bed."

"Well, that's a good indication of- "

"No, I'm afraid it's not. At Joseph's last office visit his endocrinologist said specifically that if Joseph isn't checked overnight at camp he will have a seizure."

"I'm sure he would wake up- "

"Two nights ago, my son went to bed with an 'in-range' BG-- four hours later he was 52. We fed him glucose tablets and a snack-- he slept through it all."

Now, Sandra, why should anyone have to waste their time arguing with a so-called "medical professional" over what's best for Joseph? Geeze - I can't believe it. They are responsible for your kid. And, I am assuming that like most, this db camp is not cheap.

This year my 10 year old son and I went to diabetes camp less than two weeks after his diagnosis. I found the camp on line WHILE he was in the hospital - and while I was still in panic mode. This camp allowed me to be a counselor in the girls cabin (actually they were short staffed and I'm a clinical psychologist) which is the ONLY way my son would ever have gone away to camp at that point and the only way I would have let him. Being in charge of those girls (well, actually I was a 53 year old JUNIOR counselor...) and helping them with their BGL checks and their highs and their lows helped me to learn so much. Not only this but my son had a good time AND he learned to do his own injections that week!!! I will be forever grateful to that camp.

Oh, and by the way, this camp made a list every night of the children who needed midnight checks and 2AM checks and they had no problem putting as many kids on the list as needed to be there.

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About Me

I'm a mom of two children-- a 9-year old girl and a 16-year old young man. In addition, I've been vice president of a marketing company; a full-time student (English major); a product services manager for a financial publisher; a childbirth instructor and birth assistant; an aspiring sculptor; and most recently, director of information services and outreach for a non-profit government watchdog group-- in exactly that order.